The December 2020 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, has recently become available in our parishes. This edition commemorates the centenary of the foundation, in 1920, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and is in a beautiful new format that includes colour photographs and QR codes with links to further information.  Content includes details of ordinations, clergy awards, and appointments; reports on feast-day celebrations in Geelong and at the Kazan Convent in Kentlyn, NSW; an extensive report marking the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of Saint John the Baptist Skete in Kentlyn, together with an appeals for funds to assist with the rebuilding of the skete; an obituary of His Holiness Irenej, Patriarch of Serbia, who reposed this year as a result of the coronavirus; the Jubilee Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion; a beautiful colour reproduction of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, suitable for framing; materials on globalisation from the perspective of the Russian Orthodox Church; and more.  Copies are $5.00.

For us as for everyone, 2020 was dominated by the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 and the public health measures implemented to manage it.  Our parish had no services from Monday 23 March until Thursday 21 May and restrictions on attendance were in place from Saturday 21 March until the end of the year.  We had four baptisms: Thea Yakimov, Timothy Martin, and Sophia and Katie Edwards.  Funerals were served for Nicholas Markatcheff and Olga Osadczuk.  Our long-serving Head Sister, Anna Pavlova Morhun, departed this life.  Litanies and prayers were offered to mark the Centenary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and together with the Gosford parish we provided an English-Russian wall calendar commemorating this milestone in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church.  Our website provided information to help with the planning of weddings and instructive material about Sunday commemorations and readings, certain Great Feasts, and the system of tones used for singing in the Russian Orthodox Church.  The extension to our sanctuary was effectively completed and work to renovate the sacristy commenced.  Our beautiful new icon case was received and blessed, and we purchased a set of new white vestments for our church.  Our parish rector made pastoral visits to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales in August and November.  All the news from 2020 can be read here.  Glory be to God for all things!

On Saturday 26 December and Sunday 27 December we had services for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Forefathers, the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh and all the great fathers, mothers and prophets of the Old Testament.   Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Following Divine Liturgy a memorial litia was served for the newly-reposed handmaiden of God Anna and for Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radovic) of Montenegro and the Littoral, and more than one hundred hierarchs and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church who have departed this life in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus.  A comprehensive list of the departed clergy is available in Russian here, and a shorter list in English that includes monastics is available here.  These were our final services for 2020.

Updated: On Monday 21 December we learned with deep sadness of the repose, early that morning, of Anna Pavlovna Morhun.  Anna Pavlovna was active in the life of our parish from the time of its foundation in 1952.  She was a member of the Parish Council and active in the Ladies' Auxiliary for most of that period, filling the role of Head Sister for over fifty years.  She continued to be actively involved in church life well into her nineties, cooking, cleaning the church, and changing the vestments.  She received a gramota from Archbishop Sava (Raevsky) in 1964, a medal from then Archbishop Hilarion in 1998 on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the establishment of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese, and in 2017 Bishop George awarded her the prestigious Diocesan Cross.  May God grant this good and faithful servant of our parish rest with the saints, and make her memory to be eternal!  

On Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December we had services in honour of Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia.  All-night vigil was served on Friday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Saturday morning.  Immediately after Divine Liturgy a moleben was served to Saint Nicholas, following which the parish rector congratulated two parish members on their name-day: our warden, Nikolai Goura, and Parish Council member Dean (Nicholas) Crawford.  Many years was then sung for them both.  This commemoration of Saint Nicholas is the "lesser" patronal feast of our church, the main feast-day for us being that of the Translation of the relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari, commemorated on 22 May. 

On Saturday 12 December and Sunday 13 December we had services for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.   Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy on Sunday the parish rector spoke about Christ's healing of the infirm woman on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17) and the importance of not weaponising spiritual disciplines against one another, and about the life and Christian example of the Holy Apostle Andrew.  As from 7 December we were allowed 65 people in church, these were the first services since the beginning of March at which attendance was essentially unrestricted.

With the blessing of Bishop George, on Saturday 28 November and Sunday 29 November our parish rector undertook a further pastoral visit to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. On Saturday Evan Cotton was baptised, and on Sunday, the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the commemoration of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, Divine Liturgy was served in Boambee, a suburb of Coffs Harbour, in a temporary chapel at the home of Ashish Sinha and Evgenia Biryukova. At Divine Liturgy the newly-baptised Evan received Holy Communion for the first time, and in place of a sermon the parish rector read aloud the Jubilee Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. 

Our Summer 2020-21 Schedule of Services - covering December, January and February - is now available in PDF format.  A copy of the English-language Summer 2020-21 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Summer 2020-21 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages are available in church as of Sunday 22 November. UPDATED 4 December 2020:  From Monday 7 December 2020 attendance numbers at religious services in New South Wales are subject to the two square metre rule.  We are permitted 65 people because the total area of our church and choir loft is approximately 130 squares metres. As no more than 50 people generally attend services in our parish, restrictions have effectively been lifted for all but the very largest services.  None of the services in the current schedule are expected to have more than 65 people in attendance.

On Saturday 21 November and Sunday 22 November we had services for the for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius of Ephesus (+3rd-4th C. AD) and Venerable Matrona of Constantinople (+492 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  As 22 November was the anniversary of the repose of the founder of our parish, the ever-memorable Archpriest John Lupish (+1977), former parishioners of Father John gathered for a panikhida prior to Matins on Saturday evening.  Serving together with the parish rector at Matins and Divine Liturgy was Protodeacon German Polorotov, a cleric of Saint Ksenia of St Petersburg Russian Orthodox Church in Tweed Heads, NSW.  Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.   At Divine Liturgy on Sunday Father John was commemorated at the Great Entrance, and in place of a sermon the parish rector read aloud the Jubilee Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Our 2020 Annual Report, including the independently audited 2019-20 Financial Statements, is now available. A copy of the report can be accessed in PDF form here.  In view of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, and with Bishop George’s blessing, there will be no parish Annual General Meeting this year.  Instead, the 2020 Annual Report was endorsed by the Parish Council at a meeting on Monday 2 November 2020.  We encourage our parishioners and friends with questions or comments in relation to our Annual Report to contact us.

On Saturday 7 November and Sunday 8 November we had services for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, in honour of Great-Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (+306 AD), and in memory of the great and dreadful earthquake in Constantinople in 740 AD that caused much death and destruction. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  As this Saturday was Saint Demetrius Saturday, a day of commemoration of the departed, a general panikhida was served before Matins.  At the panikhida, in accordance with the instructions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, we commemorated their Beatitudes the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony and Anastassy; the Metropolitans Philaret, Vitaly and Laurus; our ever-memorable Diocesan hierarchs Archbishops Theodore, Savva, Theodosy, Afanasy, and Paul; all those who for Christ and the Russian Church laboured in divers lands, and the other archpastors, pastors, founders and benefactors of the Russian Diaspora; the elect sons and daughters of the Church of Russia, who faithfully struggled for her unity, good estate and honour in the realms of piety, blessedness, governance, the protection of the persecuted and the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors; all our righteous ancestors, for their peaceful repose and blessed memory; and the clergy and monastics of the Russian Orthodox Church who have departed this life as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Attendance at the services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.  In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the history of the earthquake in 740 AD, about how the people of Constantinople responded to it with repentance, and how the experience of the Christian people throughout the ages is woven into the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church.

On Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October we had services for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.   In his sermon at Divine Liturgy the parish rector spoke about the Seventh Ecumenical Council, the work of the Holy Fathers who participated in it, and the importance of sacred images to our Orthodox faith and life.

On Saturday 10 October and Sunday 11 October we had services for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint Chariton the Confessor (+c.350 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.  In anticipation of the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on Wednesday 14 October, Divine Liturgy was preceded by the Lesser Blessing of Water and followed by a moleben to the Mother of God.  The moleben was served before our new icon of the Mother of God, after which prayers of blessing were read over the icon and new white vestments for the Divine Table, the Table of Oblation, and the icon stands.  The parish rector then congratulated Matushka Marie with the approach of her name-day (12 October, Saint Mary of Palestine), thanking her for her work conducting the choir, baking prosphora, and organising attendance in both our parish and the Gosford parish.  Many Years was sung for her, and Head Sister Irene Lupish presented her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Updated 16 October 2020: Following the service, local historian Alek Schulha, a dear friend of our parish, drew the winning ticket in a fundraising raffle organised by the parish Ladies' Auxiliary that raised over $2000.00.

The September 2020 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, has recently become available in our parishes. As usual, it contains a number of interesting articles in both Russian and English. This issue includes the Russian-language text of the Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion on the fiftieth anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Herman of Alaska; the Russian and English texts of the Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion to Participants in ROCOR Centenary celebrations in Sydney in July 2020 organised by the Two-Headed Eagle Society; the text of episcopal circulars and decrees; a ‘Homily on the Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross’ by Saint Theodore the Studite; a moving article by Matushka Karen Baker reflecting on the coronavirus pandemic and on the death of her husband in a motor vehicle accident, leaving her a young widow with six children; and others.  Copies are $5.00.

On Saturday 26 September and Sunday 27 September, the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, we had services for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves and the bringing out of the Cross was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  Attendance at the services remained restricted by public health regulations to a total of thirty people.

On Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September we had services for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia (+1228 AD), Wonderworkers of Murom, and exemplars of love, faithfulness and family life.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served at on Sunday morning. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people. At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon a moleben to Saints Peter and Febronia was served at which all the married couples in our parish were commemorated by name.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the lives of these saints, their example of love and faithfulness, and the help given through their prayers.

With the blessing of Bishop George, on Saturday 29 August and Sunday 30 August our parish rector undertook a further pastoral visit to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. On Sunday morning, the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost and the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Divine Liturgy was served in Barraganyatti in a temporary chapel at the home of Evan and Katerina Cotten.  This was the first service on the Mid North Coast for 2020, planned services in March and May having been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On Thursday 27 August and Friday 28 August we had services for the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.  All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Thursday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Friday morning.  As it was 71 years to the day since the first Russian Orthodox services in the Hunter Valley, served in the Anglican Chapel at the Greta Migrant Camp by Archpriest John Lupish, a prayer of thanksgiving was offered at Divine Liturgy.  Placed in our church for veneration at these services was a very old hand-painted copy of the wonderworking Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.  This copy, painted in Russia and later taken to China before coming to Australia, was badly burned many years ago but has since, through the grace of God, wondrously restored. The icon belongs to the Erzikoff family who, in an act of great kindness, permitted us to have it in our parish on this day.

On Saturday 22 August and Sunday 23 August we had services for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Archdeacon and Martyr Lawrence (+258 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served at on Sunday morning. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people. At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon there was a blessing of honey that was afterwards distributed to those present.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-25, the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel) and the importance of showing to others the same generous mercy we have received from God.

On 23 August 1949, just four days after his arrival in Australia, Archpriest John Lupish served the funeral of one year-old Irene Solomko. She was then laid to rest in the Greta Cemetery together with a number of other infants who died in an epidemic of measles that swept through the Greta Migrant Camp at that time.   Father John would preside at five more burials at Greta: Wsewolod (Vsevelod) Shipilow (+1949, a boy of 18 months), Larisa Klebakin (+1950), Lydia Elagin (+1956), Alexander Melnik (+1970) and Ivan Elagin (+1977).  Since 2015 a general memorial service has been held in the Greta Cemetery each year on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of that first burial.  This year’s memorial service was held on Saturday 22 August.  Joining our parish rector for the service on a cold and windy morning were Alek Schulha, author of ‘Beneath the Shadows of Mount Molly Morgan: History and Stories of Greta Camp 1939-1960’; Alek’s wife, Lee Schulha; George Solomko, one of the younger brothers of Irene; George’s daughter Lara Sullivan; Volodymyr Udovenko; Anna Katonin; and John Armstrong.  Prayers were offered for the repose of the ever-memorable Archpriest John (+1977), his matushka Maria (+1979), for the child Irene, and all those Orthodox Christians buried in the Greta Cemetery.  May their memory be eternal!

Our Spring 2020 Schedule of Services - covering September, October and November - is now available in PDF format.  Services of note during this period include those for Saints Peter and Fevronia on 12-13 September, for the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on 26-27 September, and on the anniversary of the repose of our parish founder, the ever-memorable Archpriest John Lupish, on 21-22 November.  A copy of the English-language Spring 2020 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Spring 2020 Schedule of Services is available here.  NOTE: As of 1 June 2020, the number of people able to be present at all services in our church is restricted by New South Wales Government public health orders to thirty (30).  In view of this, attendance at Sunday services will be by invitation only.  As attendance at evening services is generally low these services are open to all who wish to attend.  The NSW Department of Health recommendation that face masks be worn in places of religious worship should be noted.

On Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August we had services for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Prophet Elias (+9th Century BC).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served at on Sunday morning. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people. At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the instructions given by the Apostles Paul and James in the two appointed readings (1 Corinthians 1:10-18 and James 5:10-20): avoiding division in the life of the Church, being patient in suffering, praying in times of trouble, seeking anointing when sick, and confessing one’s sins.

In conjunction with Saint Panteleimon Russian Orthodox Church, Gosford, our parish has developed and published an explanation of the reasons why weddings cannot be celebrated on certain days and dates and during certain seasons. It incorporates a list of Sundays and Fridays on which weddings can be celebrated that has now been updated to include Sundays and Fridays in 2021 and 2022.  This information, which can be accessed either here or via our Needs page under Weddings, has been prepared to help our parishioners and friends when planning weddings in parishes of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Should anyone have any questions about this information, please contact us.

On Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July we had services for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served at on Sunday morning. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people. At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the history and significance of the Ecumenical Councils and of the importance of focusing on eternal rather than passing truths.

On Saturday 11 July and Sunday 12 July we had services for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of the Holy Preёminent Apostles Peter and Paul.  All-night vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered.  Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.

On Saturday 27 June and Sunday 28 June we had services for the Third Sunday after Pentecost and in honour of Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (+1461 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered and the Archpastoral Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion to the Clergy and Flock of the Dioceses of Eastern American and Australia & New Zealand was read in place of a sermon. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.

On Saturday 13 June and Sunday 14 June we had services for the First Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of All Saints. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered. Attendance at both services was restricted by public health regulations to thirty people.

Our Winter 2020 Schedule of Services - covering June, July and August - is now available in PDF format.  Services of note during this period include those for Saints Peter and Paul on 11-12 July and the Dormition of the Mother of God on 27-28 August.  A copy of the English-language Winter 2020 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Winter 2020 Schedule of Services is available here.  Printed copies in both languages will be available in church as of 13-14 June.  NOTE: As of 1 June 2020, the number of people able to be present at all services in our church is restricted by New South Wales Government public health orders to thirty (30).  In view of this, attendance at Sunday services will be by invitation only.  Those wishing to attend specific weekday Divine Liturgies should express interest in doing so by emailing attendance@stnicholaswallsend.org.au.  As attendance at evening services is generally low these services are open to all who wish to attend.

On Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May we had services for the Sixth Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man, and in honour of Saints Methodius and Kirill, teachers of the Slavs.  This Sunday is so named because the appointed reading from the Holy Gospel gives an account of the healing of the man blind from birth (John 9:1-38).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in Time of Epidemic was offered. Once again, attendance was restricted by public health regulations to ten people in addition to essential workers. 

On Thursday 21 May and Thursday 22 May we had services for the feast-day of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra in Lycia, modern-day Turkey, to Bari in Italy.  These were our first services since 21-22 March, the Third Sunday in Great Lent, and attendance was restricted by public health regulations to ten people in addition to essential workers.  On Thursday evening All-night Vigil with the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and five loaves was served.  As this feast-day of Saint Nicholas is the patronal feast of our parish, the customary blessing of water was served early on Friday morning.  A significant number of those present received Holy Communion.  A moleben to Saint Nicholas was served immediately after Divine Liturgy, following which the usual prayers were offered for the Patriarch and the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Australian and Russian lands, parish office-bearers, the people present, and for our departed founders and parishioners.

On Wednesday 13 May the Parish Council met by teleconference.  Particular attention was given to the COVID-19 crisis, its impact on all aspects of parish life, and the possibility of recommencing open-door services, albeit with restricted numbers, from 15 May.  After some discussion during which the difficulty of restricting attendance was discussed, it was agreed that services with ten worshippers present, in addition to essential workers, would begin as of 21-22 May, the feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas and the patronal feast of our parish.  The Parish Council is due to meet again on Monday 22 June.

The April 2020 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, has recently become available in our parishes. As usual, it contains a number of interesting articles in both Russian and English. This issue includes the Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in Russian and English; “Домашнее Богослужение Воскресного Дня”; “How Saint Valentina of Minsk helped during the Great Patriotic War”; the text of episcopal statements, letters and decrees; materials relating to the coronavirus pandemic; and a directory of Diocesan parishes and clergy.  Copies are $5.00.  During the period in which our church is closed, we will post a copy to any of our parishioners who would like one.

On Sunday 26 April, Thomas Sunday, our parish rector served behind closed doors in the Gosford parish.  Thomas Sunday is so named because the appointed reading from the Gospel (John 20:19-31) gives an account of the initial unbelief and subsequent confession of faith of the Apostle Thomas.  At Divine Liturgy all the commemoration books of our parish were read.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon the prayer at the breaking of the Artos was read and the artosi for both our parish and the Gosford parish were cut for distribution.  The pieces of the artos have been frozen and will be distributed when the churches reopen.  Following Divine Liturgy a general pannikhida was served in anticipation of Radonitsa (the "Day of Rejoicing"), a commemoration of the departed that in the Russian Orthodox tradition is customarily observed on the second Tuesday after Pascha.  In accordance with the instructions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia we commemorated their Beatitudes the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony and Anastassy; Metropolitans Philaret, Vitaly and Laurus; our ever-memorable Diocesan hierarchs Archbishops Theodore, Savva, Theodosy, Afanasy, and Paul; the departed clergy of our Diocese; all those who for Christ and the Russian Church laboured in divers lands, and the other archpastors, pastors, founders and benefactors of the Russian Diaspora; for the elect sons and daughters of the Church of Russia, who faithfully struggled for her unity, good estate and honour in the realms of piety, blessedness, governance, the protection of the persecuted and the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors; for all our righteous ancestors, and for their peaceful repose and blessed memory.  At this service the names of the departed in all the commemoration books of our parish and the Gosford parish were read.

On 23 April, Bright Thursday, our parish rector served the graveside funeral of 96 year-old Nicholas Markatcheff. Nicholas, who was born in Harbin, China, in May 1923, departed this life on Bright Monday. His funeral was served in Wallsend Cemetery according to the Paschal rite. We offer heartfelt condolences to Nicholas’ son Simon and his family. May God grant him rest!

Having received advice from Rookwood General Cemetery, Bishop George has advised the clergy of the Sydney Deanery that there are to be no services at the cemetery on Radonitsa this year.  In the Russian Orthodox tradition, Radonitsa (the "Day of Rejoicing") is the first day after Pascha on which the departed are commemorated.  It is customarily observed on the second Tuesday after Pascha.  Instead of graveside services, Bishop George has recommended that a general memorial service be served in church.  Although our church remains closed, our parish rector will commemorate our departed founders, benefactors, parishioners and relatives in a general memorial service following Divine Liturgy in Gosford on Thomas Sunday, Sunday 26 April.

The 2020 Paschal Epistle of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia may be read in English here and in Russian here.

The 2020 Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, may be read in English here and in Russian here.

The January 2020 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, has recently become available in our parishes. As usual, it contains a number of interesting articles in both Russian and English. This issue includes the Nativity Epistle of Metropolitan Hilarion in Russian and English; the text of episcopal statements, letters and decrees; a list of living and departed clergy of the Diocese for remembrance in prayer; and a directory of Diocesan parishes and clergy.  Copies are $5.00.  During the period in which our church is closed, we will post a copy to any of our parishioners who would like one.

During the period of the closure of our church in Wallsend, our parish rector has been serving behind closed doors in the Gosford parish.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday 5 April, the Fifth Sunday in Great Lent, and on Saturday 11 April, Lazarus Saturday, our parishioners were commemorated at Divine Liturgy.  Following Divine Liturgy on both days a moleben was served to our heavenly protector, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia, at which all our parishioners were again commemorated. 

On Thursday 26 March the Parish Council met by teleconference.  A report was heard on parish life, with particular attention was given to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact.  Our parish rector said that the church must remain closed for public worship, but that he would be serving Divine Liturgy privately at the Gosford church each Sunday and major feast-day.  He undertook to collect, with the assistance of the parish warden, the commemoration books of all our parishioners to be read at Divine Liturgy, thus ensuring that prayers continued to be offered for all our living and departed relatives, benefactors and friends.  In addition, molebens to Saint Panteleimon and Saint Nicholas would be served following Divine Liturgy on alternating Sundays.  Other matters discussed included the possibility of the parish rector taking Holy Communion to the faithful in their own homes and progress on our church extensions and renovations.  Consideration was also given to the likely adverse financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the parish.  The Parish Council agreed to meet more often during the present crisis.

On Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March we had services for the Third Sunday in Great Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross and the day of commemoration of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (+ c.320 AD).  As Saturday 21 March was a day of commemoration of the departed a general pannikhida was served prior to the Saturday evening service.  In accordance with the instructions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia we commemorated their Beatitudes the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony and Anastassy; the Metropolitans Philaret, Vitaly and Laurus; our ever-memorable Diocesan hierarchs Archbishops Theodore, Savva, Theodosy, Afanasy, and Paul; our parish founder Archpriest John Lupish and his matushka Maria; our church builders Alexander Medwedew, Vitaly Korotkich, and Michael Shalimov, and all who laboured with them; all those who for Christ and the Russian Church laboured in divers lands, and the other archpastors, pastors, founders and benefactors of the Russian Diaspora; for the elect sons and daughters of the Church of Russia, who faithfully struggled for her unity, good estate and honour in the realms of piety, blessedness, governance, the protection of the persecuted and the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors; and for all our righteous ancestors, and for their peaceful repose and blessed memory.  Matins with the bringing out of the Cross was served on Saturday evening.  As there was a Public Health Order in place limiting the number of people who could be inside our small church at any one time, Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning was served outside in the church grounds.  At Divine Liturgy the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read and the newly-baptised infant Timothy Martin received Holy Communion for the first time.  In his sermon our parish rector spoke about the Cross as the emblem of Christ’s victory over sin and death and of its being set forth at the mid-point of Great Lent to encourage us.  He also spoke about the steadfastness in the face of bitter persecution of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and of their enduring example to us.

On Saturday 21 March the parish rector baptised Timothy Martin, the infant son of Shannon Martin and Olga Bogacheva and a younger brother to Ekaterina and Matthew.  Timothy, whose godparents were Paul Goura and Svetlana Parshakova, was baptised in honour of the Apostle Timothy of the Seventy.  We warmly congratulate Shannon, Olga, Paul, and Svetlana, and wish the newly-baptised servant of God Timothy many years!

On Saturday 7 March and Sunday 8 March we had services for the First Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, and in honour of the first (4th Century AD) and second (452 AD) findings of the head of Saint John the Baptist.  At Divine Liturgy on Sunday the Prayer in time of Devastating Epidemic was read, and following the Prayer before the Amvon a brief Service of Supplication for Those in Error was served in accordance with the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the importance of purity not only of faith, but of life.  Following the service a collection was taken up to benefit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York, raising $265.00.

Late in the afternoon on Sunday 1 March we served Vespers for Forgiveness Sunday, the final Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent.  During this service the church vestments were changed from gold to black and the festive melodies gave way to the penitential Lenten melodies.  At the end of the service the parish rector gave a brief sermon on the importance of asking and bestowing forgiveness and of the meaning of the Lenten journey.  Following this, all present asked forgiveness of one another in accordance with Orthodox custom and so began Great Lent.

On Saturday 22 February and Sunday 23 February we had services for the Sunday of the Last Judgement, so named because of the passage from the Holy Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46) appointed to be read at Divine Liturgy on this day.  As Saturday 22 February was a day of commemoration of the departed a general pannikhida was served prior to the Saturday evening service.  In accordance with the instructions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia we commemorated their Beatitudes the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony and Anastassy; the Metropolitans Philaret, Vitaly and Laurus; all those who for Christ and the Russian Church laboured in divers lands, and the other archpastors, pastors, founders and benefactors of the Russian Diaspora; for the elect sons and daughters of the Church of Russia, who faithfully struggled for her unity, good estate and honour in the realms of piety, blessedness, governance, the protection of the persecuted and the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors; and for all our righteous ancestors, and for their peaceful repose and blessed memory.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and Orthodox unity.  In his sermon our parish rector spoke about the Last Judgement and the way in which the Holy Scriptures set out for us the way to “gather witnesses” in preparation for it: by showing kindness and mercy to those around us, and by not scandalising or confusing others (1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2).  After the dismissal a collection was taken up to benefit Orthodox Action, a Diocesan charitable organisation that operates under the heavenly protection of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco.  UPDATE: Our collection for Orthodox Action raised $370.00.

On Tuesday 24 March and Wednesday 25 March many of the clergymen of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese will gather in Sydney for their customary Great Lenten Pastoral Conference.  On Tuesday evening the clergy will meet at the church of All Saints of Russia in Croydon for the Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion at 5.00pm and Lenten Matins and confession at 6.00pm.  On Wednesday morning from 8.00am the Hours and the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be served at Saints Peter and Paul Diocesan Cathedral in Strathfield with Bishop George presiding and the clergy concelebrating.  Those of the faithful who wish to do so are welcome to attend the service on Wednesday morning and – if properly prepared – to receive Holy Communion.  Following Divine Liturgy the clergy will meet to discuss a range of pastoral, liturgical and administrative matters including plans for our Diocesan celebration of the centenary of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.  UPDATE 13 March 2020: In view of the escalating COVID-19 crisis, the Pastoral Conference has been cancelled.

Our Autumn 2020 Schedule of Services - covering March, April and May 2020 - is now available in digital format.  It includes all our services for Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha.  A copy of the English-language Autumn 2020 Schedule of Services is available here, and a copy of the Russian-language Autumn 2020 Schedule of Services is available here.  Both can also be accessed on our Services page, and printed copies are available in church.

At the December 2019 session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) consideration was given to special litanies and other prayerful supplications to mark this year’s centenary of ROCOR’s foundation.  It was agreed that at the dismissal of every Divine Liturgy this year the prayers of a number of saints important to ROCOR would be invoked: our Fathers among the saints, Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the new Confessor; the Blessed New-Martyr Peter, Metropolitan of Krutitsia; John, the Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, the Wonderworker; Jonah, the Bishop of Hankow in Manchuria; and the Holy Martyr Alexander of Munich.  In our parish, these commemorations will begin on Sunday 22 February, the Sunday of the Last Judgement.  In addition, instructions were given for the commemoration at all memorial services of their Beatitudes the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony and Anastassy; the Metropolitans Philaret, Vitaly and Laurus; all those who for Christ and the Russian Church laboured in divers lands, and the other archpastors, pastors, founders and benefactors of the Russian Diaspora; for the elect sons and daughters of the Church of Russia, who faithfully struggled for her unity, good estate and honour in the realms of piety, blessedness, governance, the protection of the persecuted and the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors; for our righteous ancestors, and for their peaceful repose and blessed memory.  We will begin this commemoration at our next general pannikhida on Saturday 22 February.  A copy of the full Synod Memorandum is available in English here and in Russian here.

On Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February we had services for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and in honour of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for Orthodox unity, and for the prosperity of the Russian Orthodox Church.  In his sermon the parish rector spoke about the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, the witness of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, and the importance of humility and courage in Christian life.

On 4 February we learned with sadness of the repose on the previous day of Archpriest Michael Konstantinoff, for many years a friend of our parish.  Born in Tientsin, China, in 1939, he arrived in Australia in 1959 and settled in Sydney.  Having married in 1963 he was ordained deacon in 1970 and priest in 1971.  Upon ordination to the priesthood Father Michael was appointed rector of the parish of Archangel Michael, Blacktown, and in 1976 he was appointed rector of parish of Saint George, Carlton, going on to serve the two parishes on a rotation basis for the next thirty years.  In 1977 he served together with Archbishop Theodosy (Putilin) and Father Nicholas Grant at the funeral of our founding rector, Archpriest John Lupish.  Although in 2007 he left the jurisdiction of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Father Michael retained the friendship and respect of many in our parish, and we offer heartfelt condolences to Matushka Irene and their children.  May God give him rest!

On Saturday 25 January and Sunday 26 January we had services for the Thirty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after Theophany, and in honour of the Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus of Belgrade (+c.315 AD).  Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for the unity of the Orthodox Church and for relief from fire and drought.  Following the Prayer before the Amvon at Divine Liturgy a moleben of thanksgiving was served for the blessings that we enjoy in this country (26 January being Australia Day) and for the work of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Theophany (1994-2009).  At the end of the service "Eternal Memory" was intoned for the departed founders, benefactors and parishioners of the Theophany parish.

On Friday 17 January and Saturday 18 January we had services for the Eve of Theophany, the Great Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  Matins was served on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning Divine Liturgy was followed by Vespers and the Great Blessing of Water.  At Vespers, many of those present assisted with the thirteen appointed readings from the Old Testament.

On Saturday 11 January and Sunday 12 January we had services for the Thirtieth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, and in honour of the Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and Saint James, Brother of the Lord. Matins was served on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy was served on Sunday morning. At Divine Liturgy prayers were offered for deliverance from fire and smoke, and for rain. In place of a sermon on Sunday the parish rector read aloud the Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The November 2019 issue of “Word of the Church” (“Церковное Слово”), the official journal of the Australian-New Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is now available in our parishes. As usual, it contains a number of interesting articles in both Russian and English. In Russian: "Мельбурн: 70 лет приходу Покровского собора"; "Австралийцы поют в Соборе Кремля"; Указы; and more. In English: details of a number of service awards recently given to Diocesan clergy; the Resolution of the Nineteeth Triennial Assembly of Clergy and Laity of the Diocese; "Five ways Eastern Orthodoxy differs from other Christian denominations"; "Christmas Lent"; "Can a Christian marry a Muslim?"; "What is Patriarch Bartholomew's error?"; "Shame before Confession"; and more.  Copies are $5.00.